Great story!
A similar story could be written (and perhaps has been) about the cook on the Edmund Fitzgerald. The primary cook on this ore boat had taken ill on the day before the Ed Fitz was to make its last run in late November.
A call went out to the union hall in Superior, WI., and a replacement cook went aboard.
The replacement cook exhibited a forlorn outlook, mentioning to the captain of the local fueling tanker that he thought this might be his last trip.
He was right.